White House says Obama could agree to short-term debt-limit hike

President Obama could agree to a short-term hike of the debt ceiling only if there are concrete plans in place to move quickly with a grand bargain, the White House said Wednesday.

White House press secretary Jay Carney stressed that Obama is opposed to temporary increases to the U.S. borrowing limit, but he opened the door a crack, saying that Obama could agree to something short-term in order to give lawmakers time to finalize a deficit-reduction plan like the one unveiled by the bipartisan Senate Gang of Six.

"The president does not support a short-term extension of the debt limit, period," Carney said. "The only exception to that is in the event that both sides reach a deal on a long-term extension of the debt limit plus significant deficit reduction, and we needed a very short-term extension, like a few days, to allow a bit of extra time for a bill to work its way through the legislative process."

The Gang of Six offered a $3.7 trillion deficit-reduction package that won quick bipartisan support in the Senate, but even members of the group said it is doubtful the plan could be scored and translated into legislative language by the Aug. 2 deadline for raising the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.

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Carney acknowledged “overwhelming odds,” but insisted it was still possible move a big deal through Congress before Aug. 2.

“There is still time to do something significant, especially if all the parties are willing to compromise,” Carney said.

He added: “I'm not laying bets that it’s going to happen. But it would be a failure of leadership not to try just because the odds are overwhelmingly against it.”

Obama was set to meet with Democratic leaders from the Senate and House at the White House on Wednesday afternoon.

Carney announced on Twitter that Obama will meet with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) at 5 p.m.